Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-29
TALMAGE AT HOME.
THE BROOKLYN PREACHER AS SEEN IN HIS
OWN HOUSE.
Informal Greetings and Adieus ofthe Pastor and His
Wifs-Hslphlnsss the Great Object Of
P~rsaChlng-Ths Music and Serv-
ices Of the Church.


SDsclU correspondence ~ M hegtHtT.
BROoKLYN, June 27.-Dr. Talmage's
house is ut the corner of Dekalb avenue
and South Oxford street. 1t is a -four story
and basement brown stone front editice,
the duplicate of a dozen or more houses in
a row with it, only that it has a little strip
of green on the northwest and n charming
view of Washington Park from the Dekalb
street windows. ClingiDg, luxuriant vines
creep over the building, a bird sings in q
cage at an open window and striped avn
ing tutter in the sun on the South Oxford
front. A low stone and iron fence pro-
tects the strip of green and circles round
to the balustrades Of the broad brown
strOne steps. DR.. Talmage is the owner OF
the property, and has occupied it for the
past eleven years in q comfortable unOs-
tentatiOus way, here as in his ministerial
work a nan OF the people.
One would hardly, on first view, associ-
ate DIR. Talmage with the ministry, and
never with its conventional types. There
is not a formal, orthodox line in his shrewd,
kindly face, nor q theological curve in his
raiment. He might be taken for atarmer,
physician, lawyer, author, banker or mer-
chant, yet his personality is most unique.
With shoulders slightly dropping, in a
dark, plain suit, turn down collar and
black bow, hair eOmbed across, his eyes
twinkling under shaggy eyebrows and right
hand outstretehed, he walked into the
parlor of tbe house | have described and
greeted me with a hearty How are you -
The great preachers greeting Is always
cordial TO strangers and friends alike.
In a short time Mrs. Talmage dropped
in as informally as her husband had done.
She must be q model minister's wife, l
thought-cheerful, kindly and considerable
to all about her. Though she had just
come in FROM the street and her quiet, neat
fitting costume was we'll adapted thereto,
il occurred to me that most ministers
wives gave more attention 10 gaudy apparel,
than pleasant, matronly Mrs. Talmage.
The lady may be 40 years old, but does not
look il. The doctor, as he has expressed
il is SO, 50 far rs my feelings go, u the
records make me So" DIR. Talmages
eldest daughter is married and living IN
BROOKLYN. He has five other children
living, one dead. His only son Isl student
in Williams college.
DIR. Talmage usually devotes Tuesdays
aud Wednesdays to the preparation OF his
sermons, and the balance OF the week is dl-
vided MP between the multifarious duties OF
pastoral work and private business. As
his church has $500 communicates some
estimate may be made of the vast duties
deyOlying upon the pastor. Then he lee
lures about eighty times a year aud is call
ed upon to speak at many meetings OF q
secular character.
! l asked Mr.. Talmage to give ME his
main idea Of preaching and the services o.
the church .
II have Just one idea in preaching, and
have had that in mind for twenty-five
years" the doctor replied; 1T is helpful
ness. Every man in this world who IS not
a fool needs help. He needs it because OF
domestic troubles, physical ailments, de
preston from Overwork, and = thousand
other things. | start out with that idea
ALWAYS in the preparation and delivery of
sermons. and have found people will come
where they can get that help. There Is a
great sigh going up from the world, and
the preacher should hear that sigh.
1.-THE conyentiOnalities Ofthe church and
of society are always killing. Naturalness
Is simplicity. There should be nothing in
a church to makea man unnatural. ldon't
believe in putting on a Sunday face to con-
form with q Sunday dress. An ice house
is 8 good thing, but people won't 90 there
to spend an evening"
Il believe in congregational sl1ging.
There is nothing in the world can take the
place ofthat. Everybody, whether religious
or not, feels like doing something towards
Joining in public exercises If they should
attend and have q chance. The singing oil
our congregation to me is as inspiring as
the boom OF cannon to the soldier. But
believe in music as o fine art, too, and seek
to make efficient use of it through our boy
choir ofthe morning service aud by oecas-
~ionally employing the best soloists. Mus
ieal people cannot e~riticise good congrega'
tional singing. The sweep and roll Of
thousands Of voices in the grand old hymn:
our fathers sang is beyond criticism. A
middle ground is highly Objectionable
Dreamy, draggy music is insufersble. W.